Prosecutors allege that Linda Sun, an alleged Chinese spy, pushed the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda in the New York governor’s office in exchange for perks like salted ducks and a 2024 Ferrari.
Suspected Chinese agent Linda Sun was arrested Tuesday morning
Linda Sun, who served in various capacities under Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul from 2012 to 2023, was arrested along with her husband Chris Hu at their $4 million mansion on Long Island on Tuesday morning.
Prosecutors say Sun secretly worked to promote the CCP’s interests in New York, particularly when it came to Taiwan, which the CCP considers part of China. She is accused of blocking Taiwanese government officials and even attending a protest against Taiwan’s president in New York in 2018.
In 2020, Sun texted a Chinese official, saying, “I almost had a heart attack when we mentioned Taiwan as a country. Fortunately, the press team corrected it right away.”
Prosecutors say Sun pushed the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda in the New York governor’s offices for perks like salted ducks and a 2024 Ferrari
In 2021, when Cuomo was still governor, Chinese officials asked him for a video of the Chinese New Year. Sun said Hochul, then lieutenant governor, could probably do that and asked for “talking topics of things you want them to mention.”
“Mostly holiday greetings and hopes for friendship and cooperation / Nothing too political,” one official told her, the complaint said.
Sun later told another official that she had a dispute with Hochul’s speechwriter over the draft because the speechwriter insisted on mentioning the “Uighur situation” in China. She promised not to let that happen, and the final speech did not mention the Muslim ethnic minority or the persecution they face in China, the complaint said.
Sun worked in state government for nearly 15 years, starting in 2009 as chief of staff to New York State Assemblywoman Grace Meng, now a congresswoman.
Since 2012, she has held various positions within the administration of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, including Global New York Trade Manager, Asian Outreach Director for the Governor’s Office, and Queens Regional Representative.
In 2018, the Cuomo administration appointed Sun as Chief Diversity Officer.
Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty in an initial appearance in Brooklyn District Court on Tuesday afternoon and were released on bail
Sun is seen at a 2019 protest against Taiwanese president’s visit to NYC, prosecutors say
In September 2021, she was named deputy chief of staff for Hochul, according to her LinkedIn profile. She remained in that role for about 15 months.
In January 2019, Sun wrote to a CCP official: “I value my relationship with the consulate very much and have done a lot to make the relationship between the state and the consulate flourish during my tenure at [redacted politician.
‘Certainly I have managed to stop al relationships between the TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office) and the state. I have denied all requests from their office.’
Sun allegedly used the proceeds of her illegal work to buy the Manhasset home as well as a $2.1 million condo in Hawaii and luxury vehicles including a 2024 Ferrari.
She received smaller gifts, the indictment said, including tickets to performances by a visiting Chinese orchestra and ballet groups and ‘Nanjing-style salted ducks’ that were prepared by the personal chef of a Chinese government official
She also received smaller gifts, the indictment said, including tickets to performances by a visiting Chinese orchestra and ballet groups and ‘Nanjing-style salted ducks’ that were prepared by the personal chef of a Chinese government official and delivered to Sun’s parents’ home in New York.
Sun is also accused of obtaining proclamations and invitations from the governor’s office for Chinese officials without authorization and even attempting to facilitate an unnamed top NY politician’s trip to China.
In return, Sun and her family received substantial economic benefits from Chinese officials, including millions of dollars towards her husband’s businesses in NY and China, according to the DOJ.
Sun is seen above being honored at a People’s Republic of China consulate event in an image included in the Department of Justice’s indictment
Sun is seen posing with All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) members in more evidence presented by the US government
Her husband Hu is accused of laundering the ill-gotten gains through the bank accounts of a close relative.
According to the indictment, Sun and Hu did not obtain mortgage loans for their Long Island or Hawaii homes when they bought them in 2021 – ‘ and the acquisitions occurred soon after HU received a series of wire transfers from a PRC-based account bearing the name of the Business Partner totaling more than $2.1 million.’
When a relative messaged Sun expressing concerned that people would wonder how she could afford the Long Island mansion, Sun replied: ‘Mortgage.’
Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn and were released on bond. Sun has been barred from having any contact with the People’s Republic of China’s consulate and mission.
Her defense lawyer, Jarrod Schaeffer, said, ‘We’re looking forward to addressing these charges in court. Our client is understandably upset that these charges have been brought.’
Chris Hu’s Queens liquor shop is pictured. Sun and her family received substantial economic benefits from Chinese officials, including millions of dollars towards her husband’s businesses in NY and China
In a statement, a spokesperson for Hochul’s office said the administration fired Sun after ‘discovering evidence of misconduct.’
‘This individual was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,’ the statement reads.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi downplayed Sun’s reach in the former governor’s administration, saying she ‘worked in a handful of agencies and was one of many community liaisons who had little to no interaction with the governor.’